Friday, April 19, 2013

Sun executive editor charged with conspiracy

LONDON (AP) ? The executive editor of The Sun newspaper has been charged in an ongoing British police investigation of phone hacking and corruption.

Prosecutors said Thursday that Fergus Shanahan has been charged with "conspiring to commit misconduct in public office."

A statement says the criminal charge is based on the allegation that in August 2006 and August 2007 Shanahan authorized a journalist to make two payments totaling 7,000 pounds ($10,700) to a public official in exchange for information.

He had been arrested for questioning early last year. Prosecutors say Shanahan is scheduled to appear in court May 8.The phone hacking probe began after a journalist and private detective at the now-defunct News of the World tabloid was found to have hacked into the voicemail messages of aides to the royal family.